The EPA's projected timeline on the climate action proposals

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, under President Obama's Climate Action Plan, has been working on a commonsense approach to cut carbon pollution from power plants. The science shows that climate change is already posing risks to our health and our economy. The Clean Power Plan for Existing Power Plants and the Carbon Pollution Standards for New Power Plants will maintain an affordable, reliable energy system, while cutting pollution and protecting our health and environment now and for future generations.

•January 2015: EPA to begin the regulatory process for proposing a federal plan to meet goals for cutting carbon pollution from existing power plants.

•Summer 2015: EPA to issue final rules on Clean Power Plan for existing power plants in states, Indian Country and U.S. territories; and the Carbon Pollution Standards for new, modified and reconstructed power plants. Also, EPA plans to propose a federal plan for meeting Clean Power Plan goals for public review and comment.

•Summer 2016: Proposed due date for states to submit compliance plans to EPA; these can be complete plans or initial plans with requests for 1- or 2-year extensions; EPA will be in a position to issue a final federal plan for meeting Clean Power Plan goals in areas that do not submit plans.